Life preserver projectile



Dec. 30, 1969 P. o. SAVAGE LIFE PRESERVER PROJECTILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1968 INVENTOE PHILLIP 0. SAVAGE Dec. 30, 1969 I P. o. SAVAGE 3,486,178

LIFE PRESERVER PROJEC'IILE Filed April 5. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOK. PHILLIP D. SAVAGE B M 6) W United States Patent 3,486,178 LIFE PRESERVER PROJECTILE Phillip D. Savage, Malone, N.Y., assignor to Hall Ski- Lift Company, Inc., Watertown, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 718,471 Int. Cl. B23c 9/24 US. Cl. 9-14 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An inflatable life preserver, for firing from a gun, has a frame with two tubular chambers, in each of which is a container of gas under pressure. A frangible container end faces the chamber trailing end on which is mounted a rupturing pin and the container is biased away from the pin by a spring. When fired, inertia causes the container to strike the pin. An inflatable flotation member is in sealed communication with a throttling passage in the trailing end so that it inflate slowly during flight. By reversing parts, inflation occurs on impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to aquatic life-saving equipment and more particularly to a flotation device which may be propelled long distances by firing from a gun or other device.

Life preservers heretofore have been bulky rings or jackets or pillows filled with cork or similar materials. The distance such devices can be hand-thrown is limited and propelling devices therefor are bulky and expensive. Inflatable flotation means heretofore known must be inflated before they are worn or are devices containing auto matic means for actuating inflation when the person wearing them comes in contact with the water. Such latter devices are not rugged enough to 'be fired from a gun or other device designed to propel them long distances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The life preserver projectile of the invention is small and rugged so as to withstand forceful propulsion for long distance flights. It is particularly adapted for use with a commercially available type of hand-gun line thrower which has the additional advantage of a light tough line which may be attached to the projectile for pulling it toward the person to be rescued after it is inflated and for pulling the person to shore or other place of safety.

Automatic means are provided for inflating the flotation members actuated by the firing of the gun or by the impact of the projectile striking the water. The mass of the cartridge or container, which supplies the gas to inflate the flotation member, or of a rupturing member is utilized at launching or at impact to compress a spring and thereby force together the container and a rupturing pin.

Two gas containers and two flotation members are provided to ensure that at least one is inflated. The inflatable flotation members also are normally disposed on the projectile so as to form an airfoil to assist the flight of the projectile through the air during the first part of the flight and to act as a drag or parachute at the end of the flight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a projectile according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a line thrower for use in launching the projectile;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the frame portion of the projectile of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged elevational view of a compressed gas container portion thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a spring portion thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a plug portion thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of an inflatable flotation portion thereof;

FIGURE 8 is another elevational view of the frame portion partly in longitudinal section;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are bottom and top plan views of the plug portion, respectively;

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of the projectile;

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through the chamber of still another modified form of the projectile; and

FIGURE 13 is a trailing end view of the frame of FIGURE 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings the projectile 10 is adapted to be fired from a commercially available hand-gun line thrower 11, although it will be apparent that it is also adapted to be shot from a cross-bow or spring catapult or other violent propulsion device.

The line thrower 11, shown in FIGURE 2, has a bored barrel 12 ending in the usual cartridge chamber adjacent the breechblock 13 on handle 14. The block is pivoted at 15 and a lock lever 16 looks it closed. The firing pin 17 is spring operated and extends through the handle. The thrower has a tank 18 in which a coiled nylon line has an end 19 which may be attached to any projectile fired from the gun, the line unwinding from the center of the coil.

The projectile 10 has a body frame portion 20 comprising two tubular portions 21 integrally joined by a bridge portion 22. A tubular adapter 23 is anchored in a suitable hole in the bridge portion 22 between the portions 21, as shown.

The adapter fits closely over the barrel 12 of the line thrower and an O-ring 24 on the barrel provides a seal. A flexible braided wire loop 25 is soldered to the trailing end of adapter 23 so that the line end 19' may be tied to it.

The trailing end 26 of each tubular body portion is internally threaded, as best seen in FIGURE 8, and a plug 27 is threaded therein. An O-ring 28 is provided between a shoulder on the plug and the tube end 26.

The forward end surface of plug 27 is provided with an axially extending pointed pin or spike 29 and to one side of the spike a hole or passage 30 of small diameter is drilled from end to end of the plug. Another hole 31 is drilled at an angle from the trailing plug surface so as to intersect passage 30. Plugs 27 is preferably of aluminum and a self-tapping screw 32 is threaded into the 3 trailing end of passage 30 so as to partially obstruct the intersection of passages 30 and 31.

The trailing end of plug 27 is provided with a rounded annular flange 33 connected to the remainder of the plug by a reduced neck 34 for the attachment of a flotation member as will be hereinafter described.

The forward ends of the tubular frame portions 21 are closed forming a chamber 35 in each, closed at the rear by the plug 27.

In each chamber 35 a sealed container 36 of gas under pressure is slidably mounted, chamber 35 beinglong enough for container 36 to slide back and forth. One end of container 36 is reduced to form a neck 37 and this end is sealed with a frangible material as is usual wit this commercially available container.

A coil spring 38 extending from around neck 37 t around the pin 29 at the forward surface of plug 27 normally biases the container 36 forwardly in chamber 35 with the frangible end of the container spaced from pin 29.

An inflatable balloon type flotation member 40 having a tubular mouth 41 secured around the flange 33 and neck 34 of each plug 27 completes the assembly of the projectile 10. Member 40 is of rubber-like material corrugated from front to rear like a child's inflatable punching bag and has a ring 42 of the same material at the end opposite the mouth 41. The mouth portion 41 is stretched to be forced over the trailing end of plug 27 and may be more firmly secured by wrapping the portion around the plug neck 34 with an adhesive tape.

The rubber ring 42 of each float member 40 is normally placed over a pin 45 which projects outwardly from the forward end of tubular portion 21.

In operation, the end 19 of the coil of line on the line thrower is tied to the loop 25 and the adapter 23 is placed over barrel 12 and slid downward. The line thrower 11, normally loaded with a 22-caliber blank cartridge is then fired by pulling the firing pin downward and then releasing it.

With the shock of firing, the projectile is violently propelled but the kinetic energy in the form of inertia of the container 36 compresses spring 38 and slams the frangible end of the container against the pin 29 rupturing the container. Chamber 35 is, therefore, substantially instantaneously filled with gas under pressure.

The throttling passage 30, however, is limited in size and the inflatable member 40 is more slowly filled with gas. The adjusting screw 32 partially blocks the intersection of passages 30 and 31 and may be regulated at the factory. By attaching the plug 27 to a chamber under known line pressure, screw 32 may be advanced to slow the pressure drop to the desired rate.

In flight the inflatable member 40 inflates slowly, at first to swell the member 40 into a wing-like member over the frame 20 so as to act as an airfoil. In midflight the pressure builds up in member 40 sufficiently to force the ring 42 off of pin 45. The member 40 now trails the frame 20 and acts as a drag or parachute slowing the projectile as it falls to the water.

Member 40 at the end of its flight is always inflated sufliciently to keep projectile 10 from sinking and soon inflates sufliciently to support a person in the water. Each member 40 alone gives sufiicient support to a grown man to keep him erect in the water. However, two members 40 are provided forming a U-shaped float which may be placed under the arm for security.

In tests the containers have both been always ruptured on launching but two containers are provided in case there is a defective container.

In FIGURE 11 a reversal of parts is made so that the inflatable members will inflate at impact. Frame 20 is identical with frame 20, described above, except that the rupturing pin is placed forward of container 36 at the forward end of each tubular portion. The container 36 and spring 38 are reversed end for end so that the spring 4 biases the container neck to the rear away from the pin 29'. Plug 27', besides having no rupturing pin 29 or adjusting screw 32, has a larger passage 30 therethrough from end to end.

When the projectile frame 20' strikes the water, the impact halts the projectile but the kinetic energy of the container 36 this time in the form of momentum, carries it forward to rupture its frangible end on the pin 29'. Passage 30' is large enough so that members 40 inflate before the projectile has time to sink.

In FIGURE 12 another form of tubular frame portion 121 is shown in which the container 36 is secured in place and rupturing pin 129 is carried on a slidable member 129'. The chamber is provided with an interiorly projecting annular flange separating the chamber in two parts.

Forward of flange 140, an annular rubber bushing 141 is provided so that the neck of container 36 may be sealed therein. A cap 142 is threaded to the otherwise open forward end of the tubular portion 121 for forcing the container against the bushing. A spring 143 biases member 129' away from the container and a plug 127, similar to the plug 27' described above, closes the trailing end of the tubular portion.

On impact with the water, momentum of the slidable member 129 compresses spring 143 and drives pin 129 against the container. The neck of container 36, sealed in bushing 141, is in sealed communication with the trailing portion of chamber 135 which is immediately filled with gas upon rupturing of the container. The passage through plug 127 is of large enough diameter so that the attached inflatable member 40 is inflated rapidly.

It will be apparent that all of the above forms of projectile described above provide rugged means for carrying inflatable members, automatic means for inflating the members at one end or the other of the flight of the projectile, and, when used with an appropriate line thrower, means for first guiding the flotation means to the person to be saved and for thereafter pulling him to a place of safety.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive:

What is claimed is:

1. A life preserver projectile adapted to be launched in flight from a violent propulsion device, comprising: a unitary frame having means for releasably supporting the projectile on the device, the frame having at least one tubular portion having its forward end closed, an elongated sealed container of gas under pressure slidably carried in the tubular portion, the container having one reduced frangible end forming a neck, a removable plug closing the trailing end of the tubular portion and hearing means adapted to puncture the frangible end when the container is slammed rearwardly in the tubular portion, a coil spring having one end engaged around the container neck and its other end engaged with the plug around the puncturing means for biasing the container to a forward position and a flexible and expandable flotation member having its interior in sealed communication with a portion of the plug, the plug having a throttling passage of small diameter therethrough communicating at one end with the sealed interior of the tubular portion of the frame and communicating at its other end with the sealed interior of the flotation member, whereby, when the projectile is violently propelled, the inertia of the container compresses the spring and slams the frangible end against the puncturing means to release the gas to fill the tubular portion and more slowly inflate the flotation member during flight.

2. The projectile defined in claim 1 having the plug threadedly secured in the end of the tubular member and the plug having a second passage intersecting the throttling passage, and a regulating screw in one passage whereby the end of the screw may be advanced to partially block the intersection of the passages for regulating the escape of gas into the flotation member.

3. The projectile defined in claim 1 characterized by the flotation member having a ring portion at its end and the tubular portion having a projecting stud adjacent its forward end, the flotation member normally being folded forward and the ring portion engaged around the stud, whereby the partially inflated flotation member forms an airfoil during the first portion of the flight until its inflation disengages the ring portion from the stud.

4. A life preserver projectile adapted to be launched in flight from a violent propulsion device, comprising: a unitary frame having means for releasably supporting the projectile on the device, the frame having at least one tubular portion having its forward end closed, an elongated sealed container of gas under pressure slidably carried in the tubular portion, the container having one reduced frangible end forming a neck, a removable plug closing the trailing end of the tubular portion, means mounted at the forward end of the tubular portion for puncturing the frangible end of the container when it is slammed forwardly in the tubular portion, a coil spring having one end engaged around the container neck and its other end engaged with the forward closed end of the tubular portion around the puncturing means for biasing the container to a rearward position and a flexible and expandable flotation member having its interior in sealed communication with a portion of the plug, the plug having a passage therethrough communicating at one end With the sealed interior of the tubular portion of the frame and communicating at its other end with the sealed interior of the flotation member, whereby, when the projectile ends its flight, the momentum of the container compresses the spring and slams the frangible end against the puncturing means to release the gas to fill the tubular portion and inflate the flotation member.

5. In combination, a violent propulsion device and a life preserver projectile, the device having means for slidingly supporting the projectile projecting therefrom in the direction in which the projectile is propelled, the projectile having a frame adapted to be releasably supported on the projecting means, the frame having at least one tubular portion extending in the direction of propulsion and closed at both ends, a container of gas under pressure slidably carried in the tubular portion, the container having one reduced frangible end forming a neck, pointed means for puncturing the frangible end of the container mounted at one end of the tubular portion facing the neck end of the container, a spring between the pointed means and the container, the spring being compressible thereby adapting the frangible end to be punctured by the pointed means, and a flexible and expandable flotation member secured in sealed relation to the tubular portion, the tubular portion having a passage therein in communication with the interior of the flotation member at one end and in communication with the interior of the tubular member at the other end, the flotation member having a ring portion at its end and the tubular portion having a projecting stud adjacent its forward end, the flotation member normally being folded forward and the ring portion engaged around the stud for forming an airfoil during flight, the propulsion device having a centeruncoiling coil of lightweight line secured thereon, the free end of the coil being led from the interior of the coil in the direction of propulsion and being secured to the projectile frame, whereby when the device is fired the inertia of the container slams it against the pointed means at one end of the flight of the projectile thereby inflating the flotation member which can then be manually pulled back toward the propulsion device by the light line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 483,667 10/1892 DArcy-Irvine 10289 1,367,225 2/1921 Barker 9-318 2,496,479 2/ 1950 Kochner et a1 9-14 3,242,514 3/1966 Waters 9318 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner T. W. BUCKMAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 9318; 10289 

